Percussion-fuse.



No. 767,543. PATENTED AUG. 16, 1904. D. J. GARTWRIGHT.

PERCUSSION FUSE.

APPLICATION HLED'AUG.19.1903.

N0 MODEL.

:5... lill! @l UNTTED STATES Patented August 16. 1904.

PATENT EETCE.

DAVID J. CARTVVRIGH'I, OF HULL, MASSAQHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONIC- HALF- TO VALTER S. WAIT, OF NEIVTON, MASSACI'IUSIC'ITS.

PERCUSSION-Fuse.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. '767.543,' dated August i 16, 1904.

Application filed August 19, 1903.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, DAVID J. GARTWRTGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hull, in the county of Plymouth and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Percussion-Fuses, of which the followingv is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The presentinvention relates tosafety-fuses for explosive projectiles, and has for its object to provide a fuse which may be safely handled or transported and all danger of premature or accidental explosion of the projectile due to shock from rough handling or falling from a considerable height entirely eliminated, and yet secure a fuse which when the projectile is discharged from the gun will by reason of the centrifugal action due to the rapid rotan tion of the projectile and the transmitted heat incident to discharge of the projectile from the gun be armed automatically and with certainty, so that explosion of the projectile will occur upon striking. v

In the drawings herewith I haveillustratedseveral embodiments of my invention.

In said drawings, Figure l is a longitudinal sectional View of a safety-fuse constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a different form of my invention. Fig. 4 is transverse sectional view on line 4 4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view similar to Figs. l and 2, showing another form of my invention. 6 and 'i' are detail views of the locking device used in connection with the fuses shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 8 is a detail'view of the locking device used in connection with the fuse Shown in' Fig. 5.

Referring to the drawings by numerals, like v parts being indicated by like numbers in the several views, and referringiirst to Fig. l, the numeral l denotes a fuse-case of such construction as will adapt it for` insertion in -a projectile. Said fuse-case is chainhered, as

Shown, and is provided with the Ordinar)y fuse-magazine 2, containing` the usual dctonating charge and percussion cap or member.

Serial No. 170.083. (No model.)

Within said chamber of the fuse-case 1 is a tiring-plunger 3, having the usual firing-pin to strike lthe percussion-cap, said plunger 3 being provided with a groove or recess Li. Said groove or recess' in the form of the fuse shown in F ig. 1 registers normally with a groove'or recess 5 in the inner wall of the fuse-case. Seated within the groove 5 is a continuous divided annular strip (i, provided with inwardly-projecting lugs 7, which engage the groove or recess 4 in the plunger 3. The said annular strip 6 normally lies in the position shown in Fig. 2 in full lines and in Fig. 6 with its ends lapped upon each other, the diameter of the annular strip (i when in this position being considerably less'than the diameter of the groove or recess 5 in the wall' of the fuse-case l. The said annular strip 6 is made of two strips of metal having unequal coefficients of expansion, so that an annular lstrip or divided ring sensitive to therniic changes is formed.

It will bespparent that when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l the annular strip 6. with its inwardly-projecting lugs 7, will lockA the detonating-plunger in its rearward or safe position and hold it securely against longitudinal movement and that shocks incident to rough handling or dropping of the projectile will not affect the plungerlocking device. tile is discharged from the gun, the rapid rotary motion imparted thereto will cause the annular strip or divided ring 6 to expand under centrifugal action to the position shown in Fig. 7, with its normally lapped ends abutting and with the lugs- 'i' withdrawn from the groove or recess el* in the detonating--plun Owing to the rhcrniostatic characteristics f the annular strip f5, this expanding action ol' the strip will be aided by the heat which is generated upon discharge of the projectile from a gun being` transmitted to the ring or annular strip, and it will thus be seen that expansion oi' the annular .strip is rendered certain because of both the action of centrifugal force thereon, aidedby the thernue ctfect of transmitted heat, and the fuse. while i effectively locked in safe position against all When, however, the projecaccidental arming, will be completely and certainl \Y armed as soon as the projectile is discharged from the gun. Y

In order to prevent accidental creeping forward of the detonating-plunger 3 during the flight of the projectile, I provide a light spring 3 between the fuse-magazine 2 and the detonating-plunger 3, which spring has sufiicient strength to counteract the tendency of the detonating-plunger to creep forward during the flight of the shell, but which will yield readily upon impact or striking of the projectile and permit the detonating-plunger 3 to drive forward, strike the percussion-cap, and ignite the detonating charge.

In Fig. 3 I have shown a construction of fusc differing somewhat from that shown in Fig. 1, although containing the same essential characteristics. In the construction shown inFig. 3 the detonating-plunger 9 is capable of longitudinal movement within. the fusecase, but is held from rotation by any suitable meanswaa for example, by means of a pin 10,

projecting into a longitudinal groove or recess 11 in the plunger 9. The said plunger is provided with an elongatedfiring-pin 12, upon which is mounted a protecting-sleeve 13, said sleeve 13 being connected with the firing-pin 12 by means of a quick-turning screw-thread Vconnection 14. Between the rear ends of the .said arming-sleeve 13 and the plunger 9 is placed the thermostatiolocking-strip 15, which is identical in construction with the thermostatic locking-Strip described in connection with Fig. 1, the lugs 16 of the stripfl dropping behind the rear end of the sleeve 13 and holding the parts in the position shown in Fig. 3, the rear ends of the -sleeve 13 being reduced, as at 17to give clearance for the locking-lugs 16 of the strip 15 when the said strip has been expanded by centrifugal force and thermic action upon the discharge of the projectile from the gun.

In the construction shown in Fig. 3 it will be apparent that upon discharge of the projectile from a gun the annular strip 15 will expand to the position shown in Fig. 7 and release the detonating-plunger 9 and the sleeve 13 by withdrawing the interposed lugs 16 from between the two parts. In this position the vsleeve 13 is free 'to move rearwardly and arm the detonating-plunger 9, for since the sleeve 13 is free to rotate upon the elongated firingpin 12 it is apparent that the inertia of the said sleeve 13 will cause it to ride back upon the screw-threaded firing-pin 12 under the action of rotary inertia when the projectile is discharged from a gun. When the sleeve 13 has run back upon its quick-turning screwthread connection with the firing-pin 12 to the position shown in outline by the dotted lines in Fig. 3, the firing-point 12 will be armed and in position to strike the percussion-cap upon impact of the projectile.

In order to prevent the accidente-i creepingV forward of the detonating-plunger 9 during the fiight of the projectile, to which reference was made in connection with Fig. 1, a similar anticreeping-spring 19 is interposed. between the fuse-magazine and thc forward end of the sleeve 13, said spring being preferably located within an annular groove or recess formed at the forward end of the sleeve 13, as shown in Fig. 3.

Instead of the typ'e of thermostatic locking device above described I may use the thermostatically-operated locking device shown in Fig. 5, in which the detonating-plunger is provided with a forwardly-projecting iiring-pin 20, which supports a ring 2l, made of material fusible at comparatively low temperatures, said ring 21 bearing against a nipple 22, projecting rearwardly from the fuse-magazine and servingto hold the detonating-plunger normally in the position shown in Fig. 5. With this construction it is obvious that when the projectile is discharged from the gun the transmitted heat of discharge will attack the easily-fused ring 21 and dissipate it, and the melted material will at once be thrown outwardly to the wall of the fuse-case by centrifugal actioninduced by the rapidly-rotating projectile and arm the detonating-plunger. The anticreeping-spring 23, similar to those above described, will be interposed .between the fuse-magazine and the detonating-plunger to prevent accidental longitudinal movement of the plunger during the flight of the projectile. Said spring is seated at itsends in grooves or recesses ,24 and 25, formed, respectively, in the face of the plunger and the :rear wall of the fuse-magazine, so that the fused material mayl be thrown outwardly through the coils of the spring to the fusecase wall and will not clog or impede the spring l23v so as to hinder the forward movement of the plunger upon impact of the projectile.

While I have shown and described particular constructions of my invention and those the best known to me, Ido not wish to be understood as limiting my invention to any of the details of construction shown and described except in so far as I am limited by the TOO terms of the appended claims, for it is apparent that variations of the structures shown and described Well within the skill of the lmechanician may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim is- 1. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a lpercussion member; means' for detonating said percussion member; and a locking device, comprising two substances mechanically secured together and differently expansible under thermic action, for normally holding said detonating means in safe position, said locking device being adapted to expand and release said detonating means upon firing of the projectile.

2. A fusefor explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; va percussion member; meansit'or detonating said percussion member, and a centrifugally-expansible locking device, comprising two substances mechanically secured together and differently expansible under thermic action, for normally holding said detonating means in safe position, said locking.

for detonating said percussion member; and a normally contractedlocking device,composed of two substances dierently expansible under tliermic action, for holding said detonating means normally in safe position, said locking device being adapted to expand and release said detonating means upon ring of the projectile.

4:. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member, means for detonating said percussion member; and a thermostatic device normally contracted in safe position, and expansible under tliermic action upon firing of the projectile to release said detonating means.

5. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a'fuse-case, a percussion member; means for detonatiiig said percussion member; and a tliermostatic device normally contracted to lock said detonating means normally in safe position and expansible under therinic action to release said detonating means, and which,

when in expanded condition, is itselfl locked against contraction.

6. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprisi'ng a fuse-case; a percussion member; means for detonating'said percussion member; and an annular thermostatic strip, composed of two substances differently expansible by heat, to lock said detonating means normallyin safe position, said locking-strip being adapted to expand and release said detonating means upon iiring of the projectile.

7. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a tusecase;.a percussion member; means for detonating said percussion member; and a divided annular thermostatic strip, composed of two substances differently expansible by heat, to lock said detonating means normally in safe position,said locking-strip being adapted to expand and release said detonating means upon firing ofthe projectile.

8. Afuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; means for detonating said percussion member; and a divided tliermostatic ring composed of tw'o substances differently expansible under thermic action and normally contracted to lock said dctonating means normally in safe position, the substances most sensitive to heat composing the inside part of said ring, said ring being adapted to expand and release said detonating means upon firing of the projectile.

for detonating said percussion member; and adivided thermostatic annular strip normally contracted to lock said detonating means in safe position and expansible under thermic ac- ,tion' to release said detonating means, and

which, when in expanded condition, is itself locked against contraction.

10. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprisingafuse-case; a percussion member; means for detonating said percussion member; and a divided thermostatic annular strip, normally contracted with its ends lapped,.to lock said detonating means normally in safe position, and expansible under thermic action to position withv its ends abutting to release said detonating means.

11. Afuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; a deto- 9. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; means.

nating-plunger movable longitudinally Within said fuse-case; and an annular thermostatic strip, composed of .two substances differently expansible by heat, to lock said longitudinally-movable plunger normally in safe position, said locking-strip being adapted to expandand' release said plunger upon firing of the projectile.

12. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; a lon-` gitudinallymovable detonating plunger; a protecting sleeve movable relative to said plunger, and an annular locking device, coniposed of two substances differently expansible by thermic action, for holding said sleeve normally in safe position, said locking device.

being adapted to expand and'release said plunger upon tiring of the projectile.

13. A fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; a longitudinally-movable detonatingplunger; a protecting-sleeve movable relative to said detonatingplunger; and an expansible ring, composed of two substances diifcrently expansible by thermic action, for holding said sleeve normally in safe position, said ring bcing adapted to expand and release said plunger upon firing of the projectile.

14V. A Jfuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-case; a percussion member; a longitudinally-movable detonating-plunger; a protectingsleeve movable relative to said plunger; said plunger and sleeve having a screw-tlireaded connection so as to be adapted to have relative longitudinal movements within said case, by rotary inertia; and means, releasable upon tiring of the projectile, for locking said sleeve normally in safe position.

' 15. .A fuse for explosive projectiles,compris ing a fuse-case; a percussion member; a detonating-plunger liavinga screw-threaded porr'm 1 "w Y V V1 tion of said plunger and rotatable Within said yfuse-'frase and movablelongitudinally relative to said plunger by rotary inertia; and a looking device, releasable upon firing of the projeetile,y for locking said sleeve normally in safe position l 6. A fuse for explosive projectiles,compris i ,ing afuse-case; a percussion member; a detoiiatingpliinger longitudinallyv movable Within 'the fuse-case, 'but locked againstrotary movement relative thereto; a protecting-sleeve rotatable within said fuse-case and movable longitudinallyrelative to said plui'iger;` said plunger and sleeve having' a screwtlireadedconnectifin so as to have relative longitudinalv ymovements Within said ease'by rotary inertia,

' a q u ick and locking device, sensitive to therinioaction, forlocking said sleeve normally 1n safe position.

l?. A fuse for explosive proiectiles compris` ing a fuse-case; a percussion member; a nonrrotaiable longitudinally-movable detonatingplunger within said fuse-case; a rotatable protos'inv sleeve connected with said plunger by nble means `for looking said plunger and 'A 'fuse for explosive projectiles compris udinally-movable detonating 'i said'fuse-oase; a rotatable prog-slee ve connected with said plungeriby 'l screw-thread connection, and releasmeans',r sensitive to thermic action, for

or explosive projectiles oomprisf* a percussion member; anondinally-movable detonatingscrewthreadedr firing-pin; iig-sleeve mounted on said e rotatable prete screw-thread connection; yand releas-k k sleeve i in extended and safe position. Y

: a percussion member; a non-y screW-threaded firing-pin; and relensable f means for lockingr said plunger and sleeve norrinally in extended and safe position.-

20. A fuse for explosive projectiles compris` ring a fuse-ease;v a percussion member; a nonf rotatable longitudinally-movable detonatingplunger having a serewetlireaded firing-pin; v

' a rotatableprotecting-sleeve mounted on said screw threaded firing pin, and releasable means, sensitive to thermie action, for :lockingv said plunger and sleeve normally in extended and safe position. f v

21. A fuse for explosive' projectiles comprising a fuse-case, apercussio'nmember, a detonetting-plunger, and an annular metallic rloekf ing device for said plunger, said locking de' rvice being 'sensitive yto thermie action and adapted to release said plunger upon firing' of the projectile.

, 22. A'fuse for explosive projectiles comprising a fuse-lease, a percussion member,` a detof hating-plunger and e locking device for said yplunger comprising a divided thermostatic annular strip composedfof two substancesv differently expansible by heat, said strip being adapted to release said plunger upon tiring of the projectile.

y A vloekingvdevice5 for safety-fuses, consisting of a divided thermostatie annularstrip composed of a plurality of substancesr having vdiiferent coeflcientsof expansion by heat, and i v having, radial looking. projections7 combined with a detonatingeplunger adapted to vbe enpaged by said projections when in locked po` sition.

' In testimony whereof I alii): my signature in v presence of two Witnesses. y

- v DAVID J. UARTWRIGHT. i

1KWitnesses: i i

, -M. 'SWEENEL Jos. CUSHMAN. 

